“A house without books is like a
room without windows.”
How Oklahoma Libraries are Good for Kids
A Room with Windows
Few people would disagree with the developmental
importance of books and reading. Today, in a world be-
set by change, the importance of reading seems greater
than ever. Children must become literate in the fullest
sense of the word. The demand is for individuals who
are rich in language, communication and technical
skills—all of which grow out of reading. To prepare
children, we must stimulate their curiosity and imagina-
tion, cultivate their learning potential, and encourage the
habits of lifelong learning.
For many children the place where this happens–
their house filled with books, their room with windows–
is the local public library. With its wealth of books (more
books than any one family can afford), the public library
provides a fertile ground for the growth of young people.
If knowledge is the key then a local library constitutes a
brilliant opportunity. Public libraries offer children a
chance to mix ideas, knowledge and hope.
Fun and Goosebumps
The most dynamic area in many libraries is the
children’s section. The physical space might be a base-
ment room, or it might be painted to look like a castle or
a rocket ship. Whatever the appearance, librarians work
to make the area inviting to kids and their parents. Youth
Services librarians, like Brook Jones of Alva Public
Library, strive to allow children to create their own
world. Ms. Jones uses toys, games, and an inclusive at-
—Heinrich Mann
(1871-1950), one of the foremost German
writers of the twentieth century, elder brother of
Nobel Prize winning novelist Thomas Mann.
titude to create a fun place where everyone is welcome.
Today, most libraries offer a wide selection of
children’s books and magazines. Libraries also lend au-
dio and video cassettes of children’s books. Considered
as complements to the written word, many tapes come
bundled with books so children can follow along. As
more books for children become available on tape, some
libraries find lending recorded books to be a growing
service. At the Choctaw Extension Library, circula-
tion in audio tapes has doubled this past fiscal year
because of the popularity of books on tape. The Alva
Public Library spent 20% of its children’s budget on
audio books, including bestsellers and such favorites
as the Goosebumps series.
Positive Influences
More and more libraries employ a specialized
children’s librarian to help administer a variety of pro-
grams—ranging from story hours and summer reading
programs, to homework help. Historically, librarians
serving children and youth have been the vanguard of
library progress. Experts consider them the originators
of such ideas as library outreach, deposit collections of
books, and bookmobile routes for rural areas. Most im-
portantly, these dedicated individuals have proven pow-
erful stimuli in the lives of children, supplying a mix-
ture of attentiveness and encouragement. Like many li-
brarians, Alva’s Brook Jones enjoys working around
children and takes a genuine interest in their well-
 “ When you read, you want to learn more and more words.
It tells you that you can do anything you want—you can
get higher goals.”
—Muskogee Ten-year Old
being while they’re at the library. She believes—
and parents seem to agree—that public libraries have
a definite positive influence on a child’s development.
Extending that positive influence to communities,
libraries commonly act as neighborhood centers serv-
ing as hosts to various clubs, civic and parent groups.
The Edmond Public Library worked this summer
with the local 4-H sponsor to offer an aerospace
camp, where kids ages 9 to 13 learned about space
travel and built model rockets. In Enid, the public
library and Sooner State Kennel Club sponsored a
seminar to launch September’s National Dog Week
with the aim of educating children about what they
can do with and for their dogs. A Tulsa library branch
played host to the city’s Snake Club.
Everyone’s Access to the Future
Computer literacy will be an essential attribute of
the work force of the 21st century. A recent Michigan
State survey of 525 businesses, industries and govern-
mental agencies found that young persons without
computer skills need not apply for new service sector
jobs. To fill the need for computer knowledge, many
libraries have held computer classes for children and
adults. Many libraries are expanding their resources
to include services designed to develop children’s key-
boarding skills and other computer familiarity. The
Anadarko Community Library currently has dedi-
cated four computers to CD-ROM educational soft-
ware, with more on the way. Christina Owen,
Anadarko’s director, says that computers are playing
Hennessey’s Very Special Volunteer.
Hispanic children had been coming to storytime
at the public library and enjoying the activities,
but they could not understand the stories—that
is until twelve-year old Valeria Zubia volun-
teered to help. With assistance from her adult
sponsor Carolina Orozco, Valeria organized
and promoted a summer story hour for Hispanic
kids. For eight weeks, Valeria and Carolina read
to the children, led them in crafts, and super-
vised planned activities for as many as eighteen
boys and girls.
a larger role throughout the library. The library will
soon have a total of fifteen computers with the major-
ity configured for Internet exploration. Access to the
Internet means access to the world, and librarians can
help families find friendly sites that will help children
grow.
On the Road To Reading
A classic outreach tool is the venerable bookmo-
bile. Dee Ann Ray reports that the Western Plains
Library System always has at least one bookmo-
bile on the road. The daily trips eventually cover a
4,200 square mile area, with the longest being 160
miles round-trip. In rural areas, the bookmobile is the
main library for some children. Typically, more than
50% of the stock of a bookmobile is children’s books.
Some schools use bookmobiles to augment school li-
braries. Ms. Ray remembers one particularly heavy
user who recently won the Truman fellowship of the
Oklahoma State University business school. Students
use bookmobiles to research term papers, and this year
the Burns Flat school won the state History Day con-
test doing their work through bookmobiles.
As with the bookmobiles of Western Plains, pub-
lic libraries have long worked closely with local
schools. Today, libraries across the state are likely to
coordinate their shelving decisions according to class-
room project plans. Students are taught how to use a
library and encouraged to stop by often. The Tulsa
City-County Library promotes student research
with a free seminar on how to create a winning sci-
ence project. Using local teachers as well as librar-
ians as speakers, topics cover all the steps in a project,
from choosing and researching a project to design and
presentation. To assist home schooled children, many
libraries offer support and continuing education op-
portunities for parents.
Brand New Volunteers
Libraries are also playing a growing role in nur-
turing kids’ community involvement. In some parts of
the state, libraries are encouraging young people to
volunteer as Junior Friends of the Library. Programs Summer Reading to Enthralled Listeners at
generally include a reading discussion group followed the Newkirk Public Library
by volunteer work for their local library. The number
and broad mix of children involved excites librarians.
It’s no longer just bookworms and “library weenies.”
Muskogee has a new Book Buddies program to
teach teenagers how to read to younger children.
Teenagers will attend a seminar for certification, where
they will learn the skills and tools needed to handle
younger children—everything from patience and posi-
tive reinforcement to sounding out words. Once the
program is running, the older students will be reading
more, while earning service hour credit for their
schools. The younger children might just get a role
model.
From the Cradle On
When it comes to the youngest children, evidence
now suggests that full brain development requires be-
ing talked to, read to, and exposed to books—and to
adults who read. With this in mind, a number of librar-
ies have begun reading programs for pre-school chil-
dren and their caregivers. Leslie Langley, Poteau’s
Youth Services librarian leads a lap-sit program for
children, newborn to three years old. As many as
15 pairs of children and parents meet weekly to par-
ticipate in finger play, rhymes, and reading. The five- Kids Gathering Evidence with Charlie Blair,
year old program has eager new participants as well Director of Criminal Studies at Northern
as parents returning with each new child in their fam- Oklahoma College
ily. Ms. Langley recounts the response of one young
participant who saw her outside the library: “The book
lady! Reading … reading!”
 For older kids, story hours and storytime continueevident in presentations and activities. A variety of
to play a big role at most libraries across Oklahoma. guests and performers were introduced to the kids.
Participants in these reading programs range from pre-Some librarians created mysteries for children to un-
school aged children (four and five-year olds) to the tangle. Carnegie Public Library devised a card cata-
adults who attended Henryetta’s Not For Children log puzzle, giving kids only a catalog number or a
Only program. Most of these programs go beyond description with which to find a book. Broken Bow
reading and discussion to include activities; for ex- Library had children identifying animals from their
ample, children at the Duncan Public Library tracks. The Tahlequah Public Library hosted a free
learned to make their own bookmarks. Storytime “Mystery Dinner” (provided by the Friends of the
Library) where guests could investigate an intrigue
often incorporates speakers on books or related themes.
Librarians have used story programs for outreach too, complete with appearances by mysterious characters.
as they take reading to daycare centers, as well as in-
In Pawhuska and Edmond, librarians encouraged
viting their visits to the library. children to write a mystery based on the Super
Budding Writers by the Hundreds Snooper Sleuth posters.
In addition to reading, libraries are encouraging Whether it’s in a small town or a large city, there is
children to write. The Public Library for Enid and a lot going on for children at your public library. Warm,
Garfield County shepherds a regular poetry group inviting houses filled with books, libraries offer chil-
of children in grades six through nine. Starting out dren opportunities for growth. Providing encourage-
shy and reluctant, the young poets change after they ment and support for children, public libraries offer a
have met a few times, and enjoy the support and re- wide view filled with hope.
spect of their peers. Tulsa libraries have an annual
Young People’s Writing Contest for kids, ages ten to
eighteen, writing poetry, informal essays, short sto-
ries, and one-act plays. More than 400 youths entered
this year.
It’s Summer! Let’s Read!
An article about children and libraries would not
be complete without discussion of the most extensive
children’s initiative at most libraries—summer read-
ing programs. Nearly 30-years old, the Oklahoma
Department of Libraries’ summer program is designed
to furnish incentives for school-aged children to read, Proud Participants of the
and to provide entertaining and educational ways for Newkirk Public Library
children to pass the summer. The 1997 program, Be a Summer Reading Program
Super Snooper Sleuth at Your Library, had 186 librar-
ies throughout the state reporting participation. These
libraries held over 3,000 storytimes or special events
with 136,658 children attending. For the first time this
year, libraries in the statewide program allowed chil-
dren to set their goals, deciding for themselves how
much or how long they wanted to read. Libraries of-
fered a variety of incentives to encourage kids. Librar-
ies in the Metropolitan Library System offered tick-
ets to Oklahoma City 89ers baseball and the Okla-
homa Children’s Theatre. In the spirit of sleuthing,
Poteau’s Buckley Public Library had a mystery
prize, with weekly clues about what was in the box
($30 worth of 50-cent pieces).
Throughout the summer, mystery themes were
 Visit Kid’s Connections at OK Kids for a
current listing of Internet sites designed for
kids, parents, teachers, librarians, and
the young at heart.

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